Living the Resurrected LIfe... In Submission

Jesus saved us through submission, so we serve Him through submission...

Younger Set

Show a closed umbrella - Ask, "What is important about an umbrella?" (Protects you from rain, sun, snow)

Hold the umbrella (still closed) over someone in the group. Ask, "So this would keep the weather off?" :)

Talk about how God's WORD is like an umbrella... if we live by the truths in the Bible (i.e. open "the umbrella" and use it), it blesses God and it blesses us, just like using an umbrella.

We submit when we do what someone with trustworthy authority wants us to do rather than doing what we want to do. It's like opening and standing under an umbrella! Is it easy to submit? NO! Does it bring blessing? YES... but we do not always feel or see it!

Jesus showed an example of submitting. Did He want to be beat and hung on a cross and killed? No. But His heavenly Father determined that was the plan to save you and me, so Jesus obeyed God's plan. His blessing was that God brought Him back to new, eternal life and offers that same life to all of us.

Share times when youth and adults submitted to another. (Each time you talk about the blessing, hold the open umbrella over someone in the group.)

Points to Ponder - How has the Lord guided us in His Word regarding submitting to governing authorities? What about to employers? When is it right to “obey God rather than men?” Are you in relationships with others so that you are close enough to ask important daily life questions and seek proper guidance from one another? How can your Connection Group support and strengthen one another to withstand persecution and threats from anti-Christ sources?

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 16 Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.